An unlikely alliance saved Tennessee from a stunning fate on Wednesday night.

Defense and free throw shooting ushered the Lady Vols all the way back from a 20-point deficit and on to a 65-55 victory over Stetson before a crowd of 6,916 at Thompson-Boling Arena.

Tennessee's Rennia Davis (0) on the three-point attempt to give Tennessee their first lead over ...more

Tennessee's Rennia Davis (0) on the three-point attempt to give Tennessee their first lead over Stetson in the third quarter of the game at Thompson-Boling Arena on Wednesday, December 5, 2018.

Saul Young/News Sentinel

No. 9 Tennessee (7-0) has been able to count on its defense. After a listless start, it strung together 13 consecutive stops in the third quarter in pulling off the second-biggest comeback in school history.

Freshman post Mimi Collins, who said she was "running around like a chicken with my head cut off" after the basketball, played a key role on the front of UT's press during this pivotal stretch.

Free throw shooting on the other hand, hasn't been reliable so far. The Lady Vols were shooting at a 58.9 percent clip coming into the game but made 25 of 30 attempts against the Hatters (1-7)

Rennia Davis, who led UT with 24 points, and Evina Westbrook, who had 20, were a combined 20 for 21 from the free throw line. Westbrook, a 50 percent shooter, was 9 for 9.

Tennessee hit 13 in a row during the third quarter.

"I really, really have been working on my free throws," said Westbrook, who shot 51.3 percent from the line as a freshman last season. "I wasn't happy with my free throw shooting last year and so I shoot all the time after practice. ... So, it's just been me working on it. I'm glad I made them tonight."

The free throw shooting minimized the effects of UT's spotty 38.8 percent accuracy from the field (19 for 49) against Stetson's zone defense. The Lady Vols were 2 for 15 on 3-pointers.

The trips to the foul line also compressed time in the third quarter. Despite making just four field goals, the Lady Vols erased their entire deficit during the 10-minute span.

Stetson's play didn't reflect its record

Stetson's performance belied its record, which featured a lone victory over NAIA Webber International. Sarah Sagerer, a 6-3 forward who missed all of last season with a back injury, scored 19 points and Walters had 17.

Stetson, which was averaging 57 points per game, scored 23 in the first quarter alone. The Hatters came into the game shooting 37.5 from the floor but shot nearly 52 percent (15 for 29) in building a 38-22 halftime lead.

"I think we've been working on playing tougher and competing with teams," Stetson guard McKenna Beach said. "We showed we can play with anyone. We should be happy with that."

Conversely, the Lady Vols were chastened by their role in Stetson's performance.

"We had two very average practices leading up to this," said UT coach Holly Warlick, referencing Tuesday's practice and the game-day shooting practice. "This is the first time I've really said that because we've had some great practices. I don't know if it was finals or if it was we didn't respect Stetson. But I promise you they respect Stetson now."

Kushkituah update

Warlick said the status of Kasi Kushkituah continues to be a "day-to-day decision."

The sophomore center missed a second consecutive game with a knee injury and appeared to be wearing a brace on her left knee. She was wearing a warm-up suit while sitting on UT's bench during the game.